Las Vegas family-oriented resorts have been changing for a decade

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Ten years after Luxor, Treasure Island and the MGM Grand opened on the Strip, the three megaresorts have evolved to become much different, yet still successful, destinations. The three projects-- totaling almost $2 billion worth of new construction combined -- fueled the Strip, driving tourism, economic and population growth for the rest of '90s. The properties have shifted their focus away from a family resort focus to more adult tastes.

Read more from The Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Jeff's avatar
I realize that this isn't exactly an amusement industry-related story, but in many ways it's still news worthy because traditional amusement park attractions have become a big part of Vegas as a destination.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

Good Times!

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"Step on that lapbar and make it nice and tight!"

I'm curious to know why Las Vegas has never received a full scale theme park? If it is becoming a more family destination, why not?
CPLady's avatar
That article brought back some memories. We stayed at the new Luxor on our first trip to Vegas. I remember taking the Nile River boat ride, but a couple of years later it was gone.

The article didn't say, but the reason they removed the huge Lion in front of MGM Grand was because the asian gamblers felt walking through the lion was bad luck, and refused to enter that way.

I wonder, though, if we'll see any more amusement park attractions added in the years to come now that Vegas is looking to revert back to a more "adult" environment.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

Jeff's avatar
Terry: I think the point of the article is that they're now backing away from that, and I'm frankly all for it.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

I agree completely. It sucks to see people yelling at their kids for being whiny or crying when they're dragging them down the strip at 2am or even 2pm when it's 110 degrees.
janfrederick's avatar
Awww man, I was waiting for the 20 story bouncy castle hotel to open. ):

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

I still liked Treasure Island better the old way.

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I hope they kill that iron yuppie. Thinks he's so big. The great homer simspon

I liked Treasure Island the old way, too. Besides, adults like slides and big exotic swimming pools, too. With the way gambling is proliferating on Indian lands all over the U.S. Las Vegas should now be catering to families and non-gamblers. I big theme park open most of the year would be a step in the right direction. A really good world-class water park would be nice, too. All linked via monorail!
kpjb's avatar
I never agreed with the family-friendly way that Vegas was heading. Adults have one stinkin' playground in this country where gambling, boozing, and making sweet, sweet love for money are acceptable forms of entertainment.

Kids have everything else in the other 49 states. Take the kids to Disney, then leave them with the grandparents and go to Nevada on your own.

I don't want to deal with whiny kids during a weekend of well-earned debauchery.

Jeff's avatar
Amen to that. The strip gets to be crowded enough without someone's kids running around. Bring on the hoochie-pirates in skimpy outfits I say!

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

I was hoping for the tallest, largest, longest coaster in the world there. Bigger that Steel Dragon 2000. If it were done I'd visit Vegas a lot more, along with other coaster lovers from all over the world. Desparado down in Primm at Buffalo Bill's is still a great ride, allbiet a bit rough.
They should have a VERY extreme airtime coaster which you have to be over 18 to ride. Big Chief's requires the riders to be at least 18 to ride the last two seats on Cyclops.
I've always been surprised there isn't a theme park in Las Vegas- not even as a tourist attraction, but for the fact that there are 1.5 million people living in that metro area and that is more than large enough to support a decent theme park. Heck between Buffalo and Rochester, NY we have only about 2 million people and we have 4 amusement parks here!
CPLady's avatar
Near as I can tell, the themepark at MGM didn't do well. I've also never seen the one at Circus Circus very crowded. Maybe it's because there were casinos attached. Keep in mind that CA isn't all that far from Vegas either. Regardless, standing in line at themeparks in 100+ degrees would not be my idea of fun.

As for Vegas becoming more adult, I totally agree. Try moving through a casino battling parents with strollers and toddlers in tow. I think that's the big reason why we like the Downtown area so much more. Very few kids.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

Jeff's avatar
In all fairness, the kids have thinned out for the most part by 2 a.m., which in some ways is when the real action starts. There's something that feels really good in an environment where there's money, drunkeness and sex all around you.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

OK, fine, I don't think I saw any kids at 2am. I did see loads of kids, toddlers, at midnight though, which is still too late. What gets me most though is not that the kids are up, but that the parents are really cranky with them...sometimes stopping to yell or spank them for being whiny. What else do you expect out of a 5 year old you've been dragging up and down the strip all day (in July no less)?
CPLady's avatar
Jeff, that's why when my husband and I go, we sleep during the day, grab food at 10 pm, and stay up all night doing our "thang". Breakfast at 6 am, and then back to bed. Even when I took my mom for a Mother's Day trip, we stayed up all night and slept during the day


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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

Las Vegas is an amusement park already. An amusement park for adults. As Jeff said, "Booze, gambling and Sex" it doesn't get much better than that!

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tambo

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